We have lost touch with some of the less chemically-based, more natural methods of cleaning. From old books – such as Mrs Beeton’s Household Management, and programmes like the BBC’s Victorian Farm, we can pick up some useful tips from the past, though obviously most of us would not want to revive some of more extreme uses of natural products, like cleaning our teeth with soot!

General Cleaning Tips

It is a good idea to tackle a room at a time, and to start at the top of the house and work down; similarly it is good practice to start at the top of each room and work down to ground level. A good clean out is better carried out on a fine day, where windows may be opened and rooms aired. When thoroughly cleaning bedrooms, try and have some help to turn mattresses.

Dusters

Old fashioned feather dusters reach out of the way corners. Natural cotton white vests and t-shirts can be washed and cut up for dusters. Save old shaving brushes for dusting delicate objects. Old toothbrushes can be used to clean awkward crevices.

Lemons

Lemons have a multitude of uses. Make a paste with lemon juice and salt and use to clean stained brass. Heavily stained (but not plate) taps can be cleaned with a lemon juice and salt mix also. Rinse well and buff with a soft cloth. Half a cut lemon placed in the fridge helps to neutralise strong odours.

White Distilled Vinegar

This can be diluted well and used to wash mirrors and windows. Finish by polishing the glass with crumpled up newspaper.

Bicarbonate of Soda

Put half a teaspoon in the bottom of a stained teapot and fill with boiling water. Leave to stand. Bicarbonate of soda solution can also be used to clean cups and mugs. You can wipe down the inside of the fridge with a little bicarb. in warm water

Sugar Soap

Generally, paint work can be cleaned with washing-up liquid and warm water. More stubborn stains can be removed with the use of sugar soap

Denture-cleaning Tablets

Dissolved in warm water these are really good for cleaning stained cups and teapots. They can be left to soak overnight.

Soda Crystals

Again, soda crystals dissolved in hot water provide a traditional, less commercial answer to cleaning your sinks, drains and tiles

Natural Beeswax Polish

Good wood furniture needs to be dusted regularly, but can be polished using a soft cloth and a good Beeswax polish less frequently. This keeps the furniture in good condition and helps to protect it.

Your home is one of the most expensive things you’ll ever pay for, so whether you’re renting or buying, you should take good care of it. While you’ll probably be tempted to call a professional when something breaks, you can take care of a lot of problems yourself.

Most of these home repairs can be done with little to no experience. However, always be sure to do research on anything you don’t understand, particularly if you’re dealing with electricity, which can be extremely hazardous. Also, if you don’t already have a tool kit of your own, this wouldn’t be a bad time to start building your essential toolbox. Some of the repairs listed here will require special tools you may not have laying around, but we’ll list those where applicable.

Fix or Replace a Broken Toilet Lever

A broken toilet lever is pretty easy to fix. In most cases, if pressing the lever doesn’t flush the toilet, you can just pop the tank open and re-attach the chain. However, in some cases, the handle itself can become corroded or any one of the pieces that connect the handle to the flapper (including the handle, nut, metal rod, or chain) can break. All of these parts can be replaced on the cheap, though.

Tools/materials you’ll need:

Adjustable wrench

Replacement toilet lever kit (if broken)

Unclog a Toilet Drain

Before you call a plumber to unclog a toilet, there are two things you should try. The first is a plunger, though you’ll want to make sure you’re using the right one. This image shows a sink plunger (left, brown) next to a toilet plunger (right, black). Be sure you’re using the right tool for the job.

If there’s not much water in the bowl, pour enough water in to submerge the head of the plunger. Give it 8-10 good downward thrusts. Most minor clogs should clear up at this point and water should flow freely. If not, it’s auger time. Toilet augers typically cost a little more than plungers, but they can deal with tougher clogs than a simple plunger can. Run the end of the auger into the toilet until the end reaches the clog and start turning the crank. If you get a good grip on it, you should be able to pull the clog out.

Tools/materials you’ll need:

Toilet plunger

Toilet auger

Fix a Leaky Kitchen/Bathroom Pipe

The most common types of pipe leaks occur under kitchen or bathroom sinks. These tend to involve either a worn out washer or a loose or broken compression nut that’s sealing it. To fix these, first you’ll need to turn the water off to the sink. Some sinks have a shut off valve right near the sink itself, but others may be as far away as the basement. You’ll have to follow the pipes depending on your house.

Once the water’s off, place a bucket underneath the pipe, and twist off the compression nuts (the big, white pieces you can unscrew). You can take this opportunity to rinse out the curved pipe (called a P-trap), which can get pretty grody by design. Once you’ve replaced the washer (or the entire P-trap if necessary), you can screw it back in and turn the water back on.

Tools/materials you’ll need:

Bucket

Replacement P-trap or washer

Clear a Jammed Garbage Disposal

The garbage disposal is a big scary machine made of hidden blades and bad noises. However, primal fears of ominous pits aside, it’s actually fairly easy to clear up a clog. You’ll need to cut the power to the unit to prevent any accidents. Some units are plugged into an outlet in your cabinet, but others may be wired directly to the wall. Once the disposal is disabled, you can use an allen wrench to adjust the flywheel inside the disposal. Do this by placing the allen wrench in the hole in the center of the bottom of the unit (you won’t actually see the flywheel, but rotating it can help loosen any jammed food inside).

Once you’ve done this, you can then use either a wooden dowel or some pliers to reach into the top of the disposal and try to remove anything clogging the unit that may be near the top. Once you’ve cleared the obstruction, you can reconnect the power, run water through the disposal and turn it on to ensure the clog is gone.

Tools/materials you’ll need:

Wooden dowel

Pliers

Allen wrench

Replace a Light Switch

Most electrical work in your home should probably be done by a professional if, for no other reason, than the risk of serious injury or death is much higher when dealing with electricity than a toilet or drywall. However, light switches are among the easiest to replace. If you have a switch that’s not working properly you can do it pretty simply. Be sure to turn off the circuit breaker before beginning. Electricity can be dangerous, so take all the necessary precautions.

You can use a flathead screwdriver to remove the faceplate covering the switch. Then use a phillips head screwdriver to remove the switch from the wall. You’ll see two wires connected to screws on the switch. You’ll want to test the wires to ensure there’s no electricity running through them. Disconnect the wires and attach them to the new switch, and you’re ready to put everything back together.

Tools/materials you’ll need:

Flathead screwdriver

Phillips head screwdriver

Replacement light switch

Patch a Hole In Drywall

Holes in walls are nearly unavoidable, even if you’re only renting. However, unless you’ve done plowed a car through it, you can fix most holes pretty cheaply. The simplest holes to fix are going to be screw or nail holes from hanging everything from pictures to TVs. For holes like these, you’ll want to clean the area of any debris and wipe down the wall. Use a putty knife to press some spackle into the wall and let it dry. Once it’s done, use some fine grain sandpaper to sand it down until it’s nice and flat. Depending on how seamless you need it to be and what color you your walls are, you may need to apply a coat of paint.

Larger holes can be a bit trickier. If a doorknob or fist went through the wall, you’ll need to cut out a rectangular section of the drywall surrounding the hole. Then, cut a piece of drywall from some scraps (or whole pieces you can buy at a hardware store). You can also use a small piece of wood to brace the scrap drywall in the hole by placing it inside the wall and drilling screws into it above and below the hole, then add a third screw into the drywall patch, and add some drywall tape around the seams. Finish it off by slathering on some joint compound and using a large putty knife to scrape it down until it’s mostly flat. Just like with the small holes, you’ll finish it off by sanding it down once the compound has dried, and painting if necessary.

Tools/materials you’ll need:

Putty knife

Spackle/joint compound

Drywall

Drywall tape

1×1 wood board.

Electric drill

Wood screws

Loosen Up a Stuck Window

f you go too long without opening a window, it can get so mucked up with dirt and crap that it’s difficult to open it. This isn’t a terribly complex problem to solve, but it can require some elbow grease (or a more proper lubricating agent like WD-40—though be sure to research when you should and shouldn’t use it). The video above shows you how to pry the window sash away from the frame with a pizza cutter, though if you’re concerned with preserving the paint, you can use a somewhat less sharp putty knife to wiggle the edges open. Once you’ve got the window moving again, be sure to clean it thoroughly.

Tools/materials you’ll need:

Putty knife/pizza cutter

WD-40 or other lubricant

Cleaning supplies

Rag

Of course, there’s no shortage of things in your house that can break, but you’ll find that a good deal of things can be fixed with just a little bit of Google-fu and a few bucks worth of supplies from a hardware store. Some things should obviously be taken care of by a professional, particularly where safety’s concerned, but if something’s broken at your home and it’s not on this list, check online before you call the repairman. It could save you a bundle.

A well-equipped toolbox is essential for completing jobs around the home—everything from hanging a picture frame to putting together furniture or doing major home improvements. Here are the tools everyone should own, from the most minimalist toolbox to a kit for the experienced DIYer.

How to Stock Your Toolbox

First, let’s talk about how you’re going to amass all these handy tools. Racking them all up at once could run you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The smartest course is to buy the basic tools you need to have on hand just in case (screwdrivers and a wrench, for example—see the basic tools section below) and any additional ones you need for the project you’re doing; then pick up others along the way with each new project. This will also help you buy the best quality tools you can buy—a necessity if you don’t care for tools that snap or break after a few uses.

Wondering if you should rent or buy? If you’re only going to use it once (like a floor sander), definitely rent. If you’re likely to use it at least once a year, buy.

Look for sales (hello, Father’s Day!) and refurbished tools; you can even buy power tools and more for cheap at government auctions. The suggestions for the basic toolbox below also make for great graduation or housewarming gifts.

Finally, remember to put your tools back in the same place, whether you store them in a simple drawer, an actual toolbox, or a full-fledged workshop. (Trust me, it’s really no fun walking around your house wondering where your wrench is when a pipe is leaking.)

Here’s what you should pick up, from the most basic to more advanced kits.

According to Clint Eastwood’s character Walt Kowalski in the movie Gran Torino, you can do half of your household chores with just three things: WD-40, a vise grip (adjustable pliers), and a roll of duct tape. As the Art of Manliness points out, the vise grips can stand in for pliers, a pipe wrench, wire cutters, a clamp, a ratchet, and, in a pinch, a hammer. Meanwhile, WD-40 has over 2,000 handy uses, and you know duct tape is an essential tool for every would-be MacGyver.

These three things will cost you only about $15. For good measure, add in a quality multi-tool like one from Leatherman or a couple of screwdrivers and you’ve got a minimalist toolkit for most kinds of fixes.

Still, for the other half of your household jobs, most people will probably want to supplement with additional basic tools.

The Basic Toolbox

A universal toolbox should include these 10 essential tools:

Screwdriver set: From prying the lids off of paint cans to opening child-proof battery compartments, screwdrivers are must-have tools. Aim for flat- and Phillips-head screwdrivers in various sizes; you can often buy these in kits. Look for magnetic tips and comfortable grips to make screwing or unscrewing easier. See Art of Manliness’ how to use a screwdriver for more about screwdrivers than you might care to know.

Claw Hammer: No toolbox would be complete without a solid hammer. One end is used to drive nails in, the other side to pull (usually bent) nails out of wood or a wall. Bob Vila recommends, in general, a hammer with a 16-inch handle weighing about one pound. Rubber, plastic, or vinyl handles offer shock absorption and a better grip.

Pliers: Locking, adjustable pliers also known as plier wrenches, lever-wrench pliers, and vise grips are very versatile. Because they lock in place, they can be used as a clamp, or, as mentioned above, in lieu of a wrench, wire cutter, or more. The Art of Manliness recommends a standard 5-10W size for this plier.

Adjustable Wrench: An adjustable, crescent wrench is like having multiple wrenches in one. You’ll need one to tighten nuts and bolts and loosen plumbing fixtures.

Tape Measure: You might have heard the saying “measure twice, cut once.” Well, you need a tape measure for that and to do other things like make sure furniture will fit in a room and measuring windows for blinds. Tape measures come in varying widths (from ½ inch to 1-inch), with the wider widths easier to support with one hand when extended. According to Vila, a ¾-inch wide, 16-foot long tape measure is a good size for most jobs.

Level: No more crookedly-hung photos! A level ensures you don’t hang or install anything (including your flat-screen TV and shelves) less than horizontally perfect. In a pinch you could use one of many mobile apps that serve as a virtual level, but a longer 3- to 4-foot metal level (which can double as a straight edge) will go a long way. For hands-free leveling, a laser level is your friend.

Utility Knife: For opening boxes, sharpening pencils, and more, the utility knife is a toolbox workhorse. This Old House recommends buying one with built-in blade storage and rubber-covered handles for comfort.

Work Light or Flashlight: You’ll need a flashlight for your emergency kit anyway, but you could get a dedicated LED light, head lamp, or work lamp to make sure you’re sawing/screwing/nailing or otherwise DIYing correctly in low or no light.

Electric Drill: Although you can go without a drill for a while or resort to borrowing one when needed, sooner or later, most handypeople will need a drill—and after getting one, find it indispensable. Cordless drills are convenient for working anywhere, but the corded kinds cost less and don’t require expensive battery replacements. Whichever type you get, an electric drill not only drills holes and drives screws, but, with different bits, also sands and grinds materials, stirs paint, and even super-powers your pepper production. Recently launched home shopping advice site Thesweethome recommends the 12-volt Porter-Cable Drill/Driver (about $86).

Hacksaw: A hacksaw cuts through wood and even metal and plastic pipes. Look for the kind you can easily replace with new blades.

Other: Though not your standard tools, a well-outfit toolbox should also include: safety goggles, work gloves, rags, pencil, superglue, and, of course, duct tape and WD-40.

During the nineteenth century, a long winter of burning, coal oil lamps and wood or coal fires often left walls stained and carpets and drapery sooty.

Spring Cleaning In the Nineteenth Century

In those days, spring-cleaning consisted mainly of throwing windows and doors open and dragging rugs outside to be beaten on the clothesline. In fact, the whole house was given a good dusting and sweeping.

Heavy, broadcloth bedding and drapes were also taken out for a thorough pounding and airing. And not to be forgotten, the outhouse was washed down with a strong solution of chlorine or lye.

Woods floors, mainly in the kitchen, were either washed in a lye solution or repainted. Even in Victorian times, some cleaning products such as Gillett’s lye were considered toxic and needed an open window to release the fumes.

Often walls in the kitchen and parlor were either repainted or walls stripped and new wall paper applied. Wainscotting which covered about one-third of the walls was also repainted to match the new wall covering.

Modern Methods of Spring House Cleaning

Spring-cleaning in today’s households, if it is done at all, is usually done by a residential cleaning service. But there are still those who either can’t afford a cleaning service or prefer to do it themselves.

It’s best to start at the top (ceilings) and work downward toward walls and floors. As Grandma did, upholstery cushions should be aired outside and the house given a thorough dusting. Today’s high powered, vacuum cleaners certainly do a much more efficient job of ridding the house of dust and airborne fibres.

Removing all window coverings usually reveals a myriad of places where grit and grime have accumulated. Ceiling fans, wall recesses, tops or door casings and baseboards all need vacuuming or washing with a mild soap solution.

Most modern curtains and draperies can be easily washed in a washing machine or by hand. Wipe wooden, window blinds down with a mild, dish washing solution. Plastic blinds can be laid flat and washed in the bathtub. Simply give them a rinse under the shower and they are ready to hang.

Make House Cleaning Less Overwhelming By Breaking Tasks Down

If cleaning the whole house seems too daunting a task, try tackling the job one room at a time. The kitchen and bathroom may be the most in need of a good scrubbing. But to avoid house-cleaning burn out, it may be better to start with the living room or a bedroom.

In the kitchen, day-to-day maintenance such as cleaning up spills and splashes from stoves; fridges and counter tops can greatly ease the spring-cleaning burden. Make a spring-cleaning check off list and try each day to reach that goal. Also, lay in a good supply of cleaning cloths, mops and environmentally, friendly cleaning products.

Whether the work is done by professionals or by the home owner, both family and friends will enjoy sitting back and savoring the satisfaction of having a sparkling clean, sweet smelling home.

Home improvement has been a craze among homeowners today. There are a lot of houses which are built with the best materials and the most stunning interior designs but one thing is missing – the use of ambient lighting.

Lighting can truly add a different sense of glam and elegance into a home. When you want to improve your home with indoor lighting, you need to make sure what you want and how you want it to look like. The best thing to do before your indoor lighting project, create and brainstorm a plan. This will save you time and energy as well as money!

Here are some salient tips to ponder on if you want to install indoor lighting fixtures in any room within your humble abode:

Tip #1: Do not just settle with the use of overhead lights. You can add lighting in various areas in your home. Consider entryways and even powder room where having another light source will be a perfect idea. Ambient lighting can make your room elegant and cozy at the same.

Tip #2: Dimmers are a perfect option to add to your lighting project. If you have the resources, you should add one dimmer to every light within various rooms in your own home. You can easily adjust the light to make it more ambient and cozy which can accentuate the room with just a switch of a button.

Tip #3: Always make sure you only seek the help of skilled electricians in installing these fixtures for lighting purposes in your home. Safety is always essential for any type of home improvement project.

These are just some of the tips to reckon about if you want to add some indoor lighting gadgets and fixtures at your home. Keep these in mind and you are on the right track!